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Assessment of sediment contamination in Casco Bay, Maine, USA
- Source :
- Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987). 152(3)
- Publication Year :
- 2007
-
Abstract
- The current status of contaminant concentrations in Casco Bay, decadal trends of these contaminants and changes in their geographical distribution are assessed using sediment samples collected approximately 10 years apart. In general, regulated contaminants appeared to be decreasing in concentration. Total PAH and dioxins/furans concentrations did not significantly change over this period. Total organochlorine pesticides, 4,4-DDE, 4,4-DDD, total DDT, PCB, tributyltin and total butyltin decreased in concentration. Trace element concentrations in sediments decreased at the majority of the sampling sites for chromium, nickel, and selenium while arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, silver, and zinc remained relatively constant. None of the contaminants measured has increased by more than a factor of 2. Selected sites located in the Inner Bay, where concentrations are higher and new inputs were more likely, showed increased concentrations of contaminants. Most contaminants were not found at concentrations expected to adversely affect sediment biota based on ERL/ERM guidelines.
- Subjects :
- Pollution
Geologic Sediments
Insecticides
Time Factors
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
media_common.quotation_subject
Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene
chemistry.chemical_element
Toxicology
Dioxins
DDT
Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated
Maine
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
media_common
Persistent organic pollutant
Cadmium
geography
geography.geographical_feature_category
Chemistry
Trace element
Sediment
Estuary
General Medicine
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Mercury (element)
Metals
Environmental chemistry
Environmental Pollutants
Trialkyltin Compounds
Bay
Environmental Monitoring
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 02697491
- Volume :
- 152
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....871f383d07875cbb18e08079f710431c